Frequently asked questions in Karl Fischer titration – Part 1
Jul 20, 2020
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This article is Part 1 of a series.
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Part 2Since I started working at Metrohm more than 15 years ago, I have received many questions about Karl Fischer titration. Some of those questions have been asked repeatedly from several people in different locations around the world. Therefore, I have chosen 20 of the most frequent questions received over the years concerning Karl Fischer equipment and arranged them into three categories: instrument preparation and handling, titration troubleshooting, and the oven technique. Part 1 discusses instrument preparation and handling, and Part 2 covers the other two topics.
Summary of questions in the FAQ (click to go directly to each question):
- How can I check if the electrode is working correctly?
- How long can an electrode be stored in KF reagent?
- Can the molecular sieve be dried and reused, or should it be replaced?
- How long does conditioning normally take?
- When conditioning, many bubbles form in the coulometric titration cell with a very high drift, also when using fresh reagent. What could be the reason for this effect?
- What is the best frequency to clean the Karl Fischer equipment?
- How do I clean the Karl Fischer equipment?
- Is it also possible to use a cleaning agent like «CIF» or toothpaste to clean the double Pt electrode?
- How do I clean a generator electrode with a diaphragm?